NET EFFECTS: How Librarians Can Manage the Unintended Consequences of the Internet Edited by Marylaine Block

Chapter Eight: Up to our Ears in Lawyers: How Librarians Manage the Legal Headaches Caused by the Internet

All Purpose Resources

ALA Washington Office http://www.ala.org/washoff/
for issue briefings, news, the irregular newsletter, ALAWON, and more. Click on Issues to find proposed new legislation of interest to librarians.

Freedom of Information Center at the University of Missouri http://www.missouri.edu/~foiwww/
This 'reference and research library in the University of Missouri School of Journalism" answers questions about first amendment issues, FOIA, and access to government documents and information

GODORT Legislation Committee http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/GODORT/legislation/
Links to articles, documents, and librarians' testimony on a number of legislative issues and government actions affecting the first amendment, copyright, and public access to information about our government.

LibraryLaw.com http://www.librarylaw.com/
Mary Minow, a lawyer and a librarian, explains the laws librarians must abide by.

Filters and Alternatives

FAQ on E-Rate and the Children's Internet Protection Act http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dltcl/pld/cipafaq.html
Answers questions about what libraries must do to comply with CIPA following the Supreme Court Decision.

Free Expression Policy Project: Media Literacy, an Alternative to Censorship. http://www.fepproject.org/policyreports/medialiteracyfull.html

Guide to Multnomah County Library's Policies Regarding Internet Use http://www.multcolib.org/about/pol-internet.html
a good public library acceptable use policy

If We Must Have Filters... http://marylaine.com/exlibris/xlib182.html
a post-CIPA-Decision discussion between me and Jay Currie about what features librarians would want in a filtering program

Internet Filters: a Public Policy Report http://www.ncac.org/issues/internetfilters.html
A Fall, 2001 study of 19 popular filter programs, by the National Coalition against Censorship. Provides both its own results and quotes from other testers.

Library Internet Filter Weblog http://www.libraryfilter.blogspot.com/
"A blog about a possible internet filtering solution for libraries," from Jay Currie (see above).

Sites Blocked by Internet Filtering Programs http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/people/edelman/mul-v-us/

WebJunction - Policies and Practices http://webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=5
"Tips, guidelines, and best practices to help you develop or improve computer use policies in your library."

Privacy

American Library Association. State Privacy Laws Regarding Library Records http://www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/stateprivacylaws.html
even if the PATRIOT Act overrides them, it's good to know your own state's policies. The state laws are downloadable in PDF or RTF

LLRX.com - Library Records Post-Patriot Act (Federal Law) http://www.llrx.com/features/libraryrecords.htm
an article by lawyer/librarian Mary Minow.

USA PATRIOT Act Resources
http://www.evergreen.edu/library/govdocs/hotopics/usapatriotact/index.html

Taking Back America: USA Patriot Act and Civil Liberties http://www.lib.washington.edu/suzref/patriot-act/

Copyright and Fair Use

The UT System Crash Course in Copyright. 2001. http://www.utsystem.edu/OGC/IntellectualProperty/cprtindx.htm#top
Tutorial for faculty on what they can and can't do, on campus and in distance education: what is fair use, how to find out who owns what, what licensing resources are available, and more.

Other Issues

AFFECT http://affect.ucita.com/
A group of librarians and other concerned citizens opposing UCITA.

UCITA Stopped, but Librarians Remain Vigilant http://www.infotoday.com/newsbreaks/nb030811-1.shtml
Sometimes protest works!

Net Effects Home Page

Chapter Nine: How Librarians Manage the Challenge of Disappearing Data

Marylaine Block's Home Page

About This Web Site

These pages are designed as a bonus for readers of Net Effects, and feature links to sites recommended by the editor.

To make the fullest use of the resources provided here, you'll need a copy of the book, which is available from Information Today, Inc., September, 2003. ISBN: 1-57387-171-0. Price: $39.50. CLICK HERE if you'd like to order directly online.

Updated August 12, 2003